And He Said To Me

And He Said to Me…

SEE how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God; and such we are.  For this reason the world does not know us, because it did not know Him.  Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is.  And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.  I John 3:1

When I was in grammar school up north (yes, I’m a Yankee!), and learning to read, I remember so well, the “Phoenics” method for learning.  Pages contained pictures and simple words like “See Spot,” then, “See Spot run…”

Actually, I really believe this is how we grow in the faith and in the Spirit of the living God and His Word.  He needs to take us slowly through Truth and reality.  We need the process of chewing on REALITY.  We already have enough of packing in academically (our heads!), much information.   Oh I’m not saying it doesn’t start there, but eventually, the living WORD by the Spirit of God needs to produce effect, thus bringing true transformation in our walks.   Slow is good.

Take the Scriptures I started out with…the very first word is “SEE.”  How long has it taken or is taking for us to actually SEE HOW GREAT a LOVE the Father really has bestowed upon us?

Well there you go. 

It’s okay to go back to the “drawing board.”  If we need God to “bring home” the reality more deeply, yes…it’s just plain okay!  It is written that there are unfathomable riches to be known in Christ!

Yesterday my eyes caught another phrase in the Scriptures found in II Corinthians 12.  This passage is where Paul is explaining the power of Christ demonstrated and made most real through his infirmities and weaknesses. 

We all would love for this life to be perfect, huh?  But is it?  The world itself is under the sway of the wicked one.   Yet we are all in the Kingdom of God’s dear Son – an invisible kingdom until He comes.

Back to the passage and the one phrase that “caught my eye.”

Paul said he sought the Lord three times regarding a thorn in his flesh.  I really believe the passage indicates that the Lord had not said anything to Paul, until the third time he asked.  And when the Lord did speak, the Scriptures say this: 

“And He said to me…” then it goes on with the rest of what He said to him.

I can’t begin to imagine just how intimate the Lord was to Paul when He spoke to Him.  I really believe the Lord is so personal and close as He speaks.  We so need to avail ourselves to our Lord and the Father through His Spirit.

And this also sounds like a plan to me – that is, to seek the Lord about whatever we need to understand or just plain whatever – until we truly can testify:  “And He said to me…”

God has made the way for all of us to have access by one Spirit to the Father – to the throne through our Lord Jesus Christ.  He Himself is the Power, the Wisdom, the Righteousness and Sanctification.  We live through Him, by Him and He lives through us. 

What a wonder – what a glorious reality.  May we SLOW down like the grammar school days, listen for Him to speak intimately.  I truly believe He’ll speak slowly too so we can fully understand.  He speaks to our hearts to nourish, encourage, minister and give us too, what we need for others as well.

What do I need to ask the Lord today?

“Thank you, Lord for speaking to our hearts today.”

Listening with you,

Sue Gaither